Quick snaps from a trip to DC (especially Museum of the Bible)

Quick trip to DC on Thursday, especially for the 15th-anniversary gala of The American Conservative, which I often enjoy reading and am happy to support – also visited the Museum of the Bible and (very quickly) a couple other places. Below, a few snaps.

A between-the-clouds departure from Lansing (American CRJ-145), with rain in the area.

And a little over an hour later, I’m in DC. Dropped my luggage off at my hotel near Dupont Circle.

Though it was about three miles away, decided just to walk to the Museum of the Bible, see some sites – DC neighborhoods are nice.

This place seemed vaguely familiar somehow. Neat to see all the history in DC, actually.

Made it! Bible museums in DC have more security that Capitol buildings in Michigan, true story.

Of course I first drifted into the “History of the Bible” section which had many ancient documents (some not exactly Bible) – this is a cuneiform tablet with much of the Epic of Gilgamesh on it, circa 1500 BC from the Iraq area. Neat.

This is a probably-3rd-century AD Greek papyrus manuscript with Psalm 109 and the beginning of Psalm 110 (written by a different scribe, note the handwriting gets larger). I was generally impressed with how well scribe-made materials were written – straight lines, steady handwriting, they almost looked printed.

A ~1470 AD compilation of the writings of Cyprian – again just impressive scribal work, that’s handwriting you’re looking at.

A 15th century manuscript containing writings from Jerome (who lived about 1000 years before).

This an illustrated prayer book made for Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, early 16th century. Very pretty.

Early 15th century, an illuminated copy of the New Testament of the first complete English translation of the Bible… Middle English though, so take a look and see how much you can read!

A 1524 German translation of the New Testament, done by Martin Luther. Still rather amazing Luther did the translation in about a year while in hiding at the Wartburg Castle.

And this is a Latin Bible signed by Martin Luther. It is unclear why he signed it.

And here a Tyndale New Testament from 1552. the first *printed* English Bible. The English seems a bit more readable to me!

Here is a wider shot – they had a room with a Bible printed in every language a Bible (or portion thereof) exists. Neat idea I thought.

A 1587 English translation of the Institutes of the Christian Religion, by John Calvin, printed in London.

A microfiche “Lunar Bible”, taken to the Moon by Apollo 14.

And my last photo from the Museum of the Bible – actually a second edition of Newton’s Principia, printed 1713. They also had a section on the “Impact of the Bible”, which included a section about science, where this was found.

And then, because I had a little time left before I needed to return to my hotel, I very quickly stopped in the Air and Space Museum. I had been there before, but I was really struck by just how gosh darn big objects like the Lunar Module mock-up were.

And similarly for this Skylab module, though the interior was designed for people under six feet tall.

After that, a quick zoom through the National Botanical Garden.

And walking by the pool in front of the Capitol.

Priorities.

And then I quickly wandered into the National Art Gallery, and my I am glad I wandered up to the second floor, because it was not at all clear to me that almost everything was *up*!

A Da Vinci had an omnipresent small crowd in front of it, grabbed a photo when I could.

Pretty serious take on the resurrection there Giovanni, whew.

And then my first ever visit to Shake Shack.

Subway back to Dupont Circle – and, thankfully, the only WMATA escalator I used that was actually working.

A bit later, the gala. Keynote by Patrick Deneen. Was pleased to sit at dinner between Casey Chalk (who writes many places, including TAC) and his wife (who used to be a Math teacher, so instant connection there!), and the parents of TAC executive director John Burtka, who live in Jackson, MI. Quite the enjoyable dinner conversation.

Event was at the Cosmos Club in DC – this used to be someone’s house.

Music from a Catholic University of America quartet.

And finally, heading home bright and early next morning on a Delta A320. Fun trip.